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I don’t know what to say about Francois
Dec. 2nd, 2016 01:46 amI don’t know what to say about Francois Hollande’s decision to not seek re-election in France. On the one hand - he didn’t have a chance in hell. I think he possibly made the only decision he could make, the decision he thought would be best for his country.
On the other hand - Manuel Valls, really?
It’s not just that Marine Le Pen, the leader of the Front National in France, will most certainly be in the second round of the French Presidential election next year, it’s that both our “traditional” left-wing and right-wing party seem to be decidedly sliding to the right, and nobody seems to see it coming. People keep being surprised by it even though it’s happening everywhere else as well.
Nobody expected Francois Hollande”s decision - he is the first president in the fifth Republic (so basically since 1958) to not seek re-election. Sadly, he is an extremely unpopular President. This is the only decision that could give the socialist party a fighting chance in the next elections - if Manuel Valls could be considered a socialist, which, hey, guess what.
He kinda can’t.
The traditional right-wing is going the same way: the Republicains primaries surprised everyone. The polls allowed us to expect and almost hope for Alain Juppé - moderate, smart, pragmatic, not entirely slimy, socially forward. And here we are, stuck with Francois Fillon, who represents the most catholic (and most socially backward) part of the traditional right-wing party. A man who voted against same-sex marriage and doesn’t hide the fact that he is “personally opposed to abortion” (though he insists that he has no intention to try and change the abortion laws in France).
The thing is, I was OK voting for Alain Juppé if push came to shove, but choosing between Fillon and Le Pen is a bit like having to pick between Trump and Mitt Romney or between Rob Ford and Stephen Harper. I don’t want to not vote but guys – what is this, even? What is happening here?
I’m scared. I don’t understand why this is happening in the world, all over the world. It’s happening, I’m seeing it happen, but how do we stop this?
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On the other hand - Manuel Valls, really?
It’s not just that Marine Le Pen, the leader of the Front National in France, will most certainly be in the second round of the French Presidential election next year, it’s that both our “traditional” left-wing and right-wing party seem to be decidedly sliding to the right, and nobody seems to see it coming. People keep being surprised by it even though it’s happening everywhere else as well.
Nobody expected Francois Hollande”s decision - he is the first president in the fifth Republic (so basically since 1958) to not seek re-election. Sadly, he is an extremely unpopular President. This is the only decision that could give the socialist party a fighting chance in the next elections - if Manuel Valls could be considered a socialist, which, hey, guess what.
He kinda can’t.
The traditional right-wing is going the same way: the Republicains primaries surprised everyone. The polls allowed us to expect and almost hope for Alain Juppé - moderate, smart, pragmatic, not entirely slimy, socially forward. And here we are, stuck with Francois Fillon, who represents the most catholic (and most socially backward) part of the traditional right-wing party. A man who voted against same-sex marriage and doesn’t hide the fact that he is “personally opposed to abortion” (though he insists that he has no intention to try and change the abortion laws in France).
The thing is, I was OK voting for Alain Juppé if push came to shove, but choosing between Fillon and Le Pen is a bit like having to pick between Trump and Mitt Romney or between Rob Ford and Stephen Harper. I don’t want to not vote but guys – what is this, even? What is happening here?
I’m scared. I don’t understand why this is happening in the world, all over the world. It’s happening, I’m seeing it happen, but how do we stop this?
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via IFTTT
